Whether you're a fan of Apple or not, you have to admit, they make some of the most beautiful monitors around—heck, it even won our hive five for best computer monitor. They're also some of the most expensive, and you really don't have to spend that kind of money to get some high-quality screen real-estate. We tried out some alternatives that can give you the features you need without emptying your wallet.

With large panels comes high price, right?
Well, not necessarily. If you're willing to compromise on trim but not on picture quality, Monoprice consistently sells amazing 27"
panels around $400 (sometimes less if you catch a sale), and their 30"
IPS panel is a steal at $650. There are also easily importable 27" displays from Korea, like the
Yamakasi Catleap, the Achieva Shimian, and the Auria EQ276W, all of
which we've mentioned before, retail around $350-$450, and have earned great reviews. However, there's more to choosing the perfect monitor than size and price. We have to go deeper.

What You Get and What You Give Up with Affordable Displays

Before
you head out and grab a bargain 27"+ display, you have to know what
you're getting and what you'll give up—or what you might miss when you
open the box and set up your new monitor.

How Are These Displays So Cheap?

When
word got out that you could import 27" displays from Korea, people
wondered how those screens could cost as little as $350-$400 (not
including shipping, of course). Part of the reason was that these
manufacturers were using the same glass that Apple and Samsung and other
high-end display companies use for their panels. The only trick is that
while Apple and Samsung and other companies use the highest-grade
(let's say, A+, for example) for their displays, when glass comes off
the line that's not at that level (let's say, A) the manufacturer
doesn't want to just get rid of it, so they sell it to discount display
companies to make some money off of it. Those discount display
manufacturers then build monitors like the Yamakasi Catleap or the
Achieva Shimian, and sell them for a fraction of the price of the
higher-end displays. The result is that you pay less for essentially the
same panel (the differences are so minor that the vast majority of
users would never notice the difference) in a different case.

The Features You Give Up To Save Some Money

In
addition to getting cheaper glass and passing the savings on, those
discount displays also cut back on features that would drive the price
up. Here are a few things you might have in your standard Dell or Acer
display that you definitely won't get in a discount model:

Multiple Inputs and Input Types: As you'll see
later this isn't universally true, but with many low-cost displays, you
may get a single DVI-D port (and it's important at these resolutions
that you use Dual Link DVI), maybe an additional VGA port that you'll
never want to use. More expensive displays will feature DisplayPort as
well, but if you're looking for multiple DVI ports, multiple DisplayPort
inputs, HDMI, or other connectivity options (or worse, all of them),
you'll likely be out of luck. Most of the import monitors pack a single
input—nothing more.

Highly Adjustable Stands: Between the displays we
tested and the import displays we've tried, adjustable stands are
extremely rare. You may get a few vertical tilt degrees out of the
stands that come with these low-cost displays, but they're not meant to
be flexible. Side-to-side adjustments are impossible without turning the
whole monitor, raising or lowering the display is usually not an
option, and heaven forbid you want to rotate the monitor into portrait
mode—it's usually not possible without removing the display from the
stand and re-mounting it, assuming the mount still fits.

Snap-together Assembly:
This isn't a universal rule either, but some of the displays we saw
have stands that are partially built-into the back of the display, and
then mounted onto the base of the stand All of the displays we tried
required you grab a screwdriver (although one came with a screwdriver
tool) and assemble the stand. None of them offered the slide-and-click
functionality we were used to with Dell, Acer, or Samsung displays.
Overall, a minor nit, just something to be ready for.

USB Ports, Audio Ports, Thunderbolt, etc: If you
like plugging in a USB drive or the receiver for your wireless mouse
into the side or back of your monitor, say goodbye. Most discount
displays, no matter where you buy them, won't have bonus features like
USB ports or hubs built-in. Some of the displays we tested have audio
inputs or pass-throughs, but none of them will offer USB hubs,
Thunderbolt or other data connectors.

SD Card Readers: This may be more of a feature
specific to high-end Dell Ultrasharp models, but given how popular they
are, be ready to say goodbye to those perks. Part of the reason discount
displays manage to stay so cheap is by cutting out those kinds of extra
features that you feel like you're getting for "free" with higher-end
displays.

Cable Management: Since most of the stands are
designed to be affordable, don't expect cable management features like
pass-throughs or brackets to route excess display cable around. We
didn't see anything of the sort on any of the displays we tested, so
make sure you have another solution for hiding or corraling your cables.

Some Affordable 27"-Plus Displays to Consider

The folks at Monoprice sent us a few of their displays to try out, but they're not the only game in town. Like we mentioned, you can easily import low-cost, affordable 27" displays (and higher) from overseas via eBay. I've had the opportunity to test some of the Korean variants in the past, and I've had the three Monoprice models we'll discuss in a moment for the past month or so. Here's what we thought, and why you might want to consider them:

Monoprice's 27" IPS LCD Panels

In the 27" category, I got to try the
27" IPS-ZERO-G Slim Monitor #10509 ($390) and the 27" IPS-Glass Panel Pro LED Monitor #10489 ($460) for several weeks. Both displays are 16:9 LED backlit IPS panels with 6ms response times, and native resolutions of 2560px x1440px (WQHD) at 60Hz. The #10509 features a single DVI-D input and a single VGA input, while the #10489 features a single Dual Link DVI-D input, a VGA input, a DisplayPort input, and an HDMI input—practically unheard of at this price point. Both monitors had their quirks though, like the power and controls on the #10489 being on the back of the monitor, or the lack of a input selector button on the #10509, the only one of the two with multiple inputs. Quirks aside though, they're both great panels, and offer incredible picture at surprisingly affordable prices. I swapped between both displays in OS X and in Windows, playing video games on both systems, and using both for my regular work, web surfing, video-watching, and other duties for several weeks, and was pleased with both.

Monoprice's Flagship 30" IPS LCD

Monoprice also sent us their 30" IPS LCD Backlit LCD Panel #10734 ($654) to try out. It's a 16:10 display, backlit LCD IPS panel with a 6ms response time and native resolution of 2560px x 1600px (WQXGA) at 60Hz. It sports a ton of inputs—one Dual Link DVI-D, VGA, DisplayPort, and HDMI port. It also supports audio passthrough, and the volume buttons on the display control the volume of the output jack. There's no edge-to-edge glass on this one, but the bezel is thin and the screen is matte and coated with an anti-glare protective coating. The plastic stand is Shimian branded (which leads us to assume the panel may be a rebranded Shimian, and that's not a bad thing), and is height adjustable. It can be tilted horizontally, and you get five degrees of vertical tilt. Surprisingly, the display also supports portrait mode. Again, the controls are on the rear of the panel. If you have the desk space, the budget, and the need for that much screen real-estate, it's a good buy.

Yamakasi, Achieva, Auria, and Other Korean Import Variants

Most of the Korean import models you'll see on eBay, like the Yamakasi Catleap, for example, are aggressively priced. You'll have to shop around, but if you find a good importer, you may be able to find a 27" panel with all of the features of the above for around $350-450. They come with the same drawbacks as the affordable Monoprice display does—you'll get maybe one DVI input, and absolutely no perks like an adjustable stand or audio pass-through. You'll also have to pay to have them shipped from overseas, but many eBay importers offer free shipping.

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When I last tested a Catleap, I fell in love—it was a super-thin 16:9, 2560px x 1440px display with a thin bezel coated with edge to edge glass. The stand even had a kind of lazy-susan design that let you spin it 360-degrees. If you have the patience to have one imported and you can find a good deal, it's worth a shot. The Auria I had the opportunity to game on looked just as good—great response time with no ghosting. Of course, if you go the import route, you run the risk of having to deal with a company overseas, in a different time zone, and with whom there may be a language barrier for any customer service or warranty issues. Plus, if there's a serious problem, shipping it back may be a hassle. Still, if you want more variety than Monoprice (or other domestic options) provide, or budget is king, you can save a few bucks going the import route.

Even at regular price, all of the panels we tested were great, but stay on the lookout for discounts and sales—the Monoprice displays tend to go in and out of stock frequently, but once they're back in stock, you'll likely be able to score a deal on them. Monoprice also rotates model numbers regularly, so in a few months, there may be a new model that's addressed some of our quirks. The same is true for the Korean models—if you can, look over the actual company websites and for reviews of the companies and displays you're considering. See what other models they carry, and if they have the features you want. They may be available for import at a discount as well.

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Whatever you buy, if you can live without some of the high end trim that come with Dell, Samsung, Acer, and other bigger brand displays, you get a huge boost to your screen real-estate on a budget. While there are some things to pay attention to before you buy, all-in-all you'll get a great upgrade with the features you need for a bargain.